| Type |
Private Company (Google Finance: Profile Page) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Vero Beach, Florida, USA |
| Key people | Doug Fowler (Founder) |
| Products | Computer and Internet activity monitoring software |
| Employees | 100 |
| Website | http://www.spectorsoft.com |
SpectorSoft is a software manufacturer that develops and sells stealth computer surveillance tools and spyware[1][2].
Contents |
The company was founded in 1998 by Doug Fowler.[3].
Spector Pro[4] – Monitoring software that is capable of recording virtually all computer and Internet activity on the Windows PC on which it is installed.
Spector Pro for Mac – Nearly identical to Spector Pro fro Windows, except that it monitors and records activity on Macintosh systems.
eBlaster – Recording capabilities very similar to Spector Pro with the exception that it can email all activity to a remote location.
eBlaster for Mac – Recording capabilities very similar to Spector Pro with the exception that it can email all activity from a Mac to a remote location.
eBlaster Mobile for Android or BlackBerry – Monitors and Protects Children on Their Android or BlackBerry Phone
Spector CNE Investigator – Identical to Spector Pro, but includes network installation, configuration, deployment and reviewable recordings, aimed at corporate use.
Spector 360 – Includes the features of Spector Pro and Spector CNE Investigator, but can create graphs and statistics from the recorded data, using an SQL database.
Spector Pro was given the editors choice award in a 2002 review of six computer activity monitoring tools[5]. In 2004, version 5.0 of Spector Pro was again given the editors choice award from a field four programs[6]. In 2008 Spector 360 SR3 won Editors' Choice by PC Magazine[7].
In 2004, SpectorSoft was listed for the first time as one of Inc. Magazine's Top 500 fastest-growing private companies in America. Position achieved was No. 224.[8]. The company achieved a position on the list once again in 2005 at No. 497th. [9]. In 2009 SpectorSoft made the list of Inc. 5000 Companies at number 3340 [10]. In 2010 and 2011 SpectorSoft again made the Inc. Magazine 500/5000 list.
Spectorsoft products have been mentioned in many well known media outlets, including ZDNET, PC/Computing, Time Magazine, CNN, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal[11].
Spectorsoft purchased the former website of the Netbus hacker/cyber-crime tool[12]. In 2002, Spectorsoft advertised on the Netbus website "Netbus Users: Upgrade to Spector Professional Edition today"[13].
The target audiences for SpectorSoft products are parents who want to monitor the activity of their children on the home PC and employers who want to record daily activities their employees have on the company owned workstations.
Parents use Spectorsoft's monitoring software to check their children's internet use[14][15]. This could help prevent online predators from targeting the children. This is legal since minors have no legal right to privacy from their parents. However Spectorsoft actively promote their software as "Spy Software" that will enable a review of the child's private communication while the monitored child itself will be unable to notice that it's communication is made subject to possible illegitimate third party acquisition. In opposition to other software products that rely only on non-secret monitoring or filtering this approach inherently breaches the child's possibilities of self-protection. This may be especially important as the vast majority of offenders in Child sexual abuse cases were found to be from the victim's direct surroundings thus "online predators" are in the minority compared to offenders with possible physical access to the child's computer.
Employers may choose to monitor their employees using SpectorSoft software to prevent theft of intellectual property, and to ensure employees are using their computers only in appropriate ways[14].
There are, however, still privacy concerns over things like personal email[16][17]
Educators, School Administrators and School Districts are required to protect students from online predators (CIPA & FERPA). Most schools use Blocking and Filtering solutions which may block sites needed for research or not block new sites that have not yet been included in the filtering solution. Spector 360 works with Filters to provide an additional layer of protection. Spector 360 also helps keep students on-task by providing teachers and technology coordinators with reports and charts that show what web sites students visit and how long they spent on each. Keyword alerts let lab instructors or IT administrators see who may be violating a school's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).[18]
Some of Spectorsoft's tools, especially eBlaster can be used for criminal activities, and there have been several convictions for such misuse. Spectorsoft software contains an EULA[19] which specifies installation must only be on machines owned by the licensee. The EULA also indicates that SpectorSoft will only cooperate with law enforcement when compelled to do so.
Spectorsoft has marketed its spy software to people wanting to catch their spouses cheating[20]. However, in the face of criminal charges and negative publicity, Spectorsoft no longer markets its products to spouses[21]. There is however nothing to stop a spouse from using the products illegally.
For example, a man from Michigan who installed eBlaster on a partner's personal computer was charged with four felony counts, facing up to five years in prison and $19,000 in fines. [22].
Since SpectorSoft software is specifically designed to be difficult to detect and remove, the tools (especially eBlaster) can be used by thieves who wish to steal credit card information, banking information, and passwords. Installation of the software can occur without the user's knowledge or permission[23]. Spectorsoft openly advertise that their tools will record all of a user's passwords[24].
There have been recorded cases of this happening[25].
Spectorsoft have previously marketed their software as "Spyware"[1], and it is listed as "critical" or "high risk" by several anti-virus/anti-spyware software vendors[26][27][28]
The software products utilise rootkits to avoid detection by users, actively combat anti-spyware software by mutating and recreating file names and registry keys[28].
Most AV and anti-spyware vendors will not detect SpectorSoft products, since they are considered legitimately purchased software.